Recording/reproducing method suitable for recording/reproducing AV data on/from disc, recorder and reproducer for the method, information recording disc and information processing system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for recording an AV file using an information recording disk in which data is recorded/reproduced by sectors. The recording method includes the steps of determining whether or not input data is AV data; detecting a defective sector existing in an assigned data recording area; when the input data is AV data while a defective sector is detected in the data recording area, allocating a defective extent including the defective sector; recording AV data in continuous sectors while skipping the defective extent; and allocating an area of continuous sectors where on the AV data is recorded as one AV extent.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser.No. 10/424,476, filed Apr. 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,039,297 whichis a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/552,922, filed Apr.20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,420 which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/077,473, filed on Aug. 10, 1998, now U.S.Pat. No. 6,292,625.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information recording disk forrecording digital data including AV data, a recording method, areproduction method and a recording apparatus therefor, and aninformation processing system thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

There are optical disks for recording information such as computer data,e.g., PDs. PD is a rewritable optical disk which employs the phasechange system and performs recording and reproduction of data bysectors.

A problem associated with rewritable optical disks is that datarecording and reproduction cannot be ensured for every sector due todust attached to the disk, a scratch on the disk, deterioration of thedisk material itself from repeated recording operations, or the like.Such a sector, from which data cannot be normally recorded/reproduced,is called a defective sector. Such a defective sector is typicallyreplacement-recorded based on a linear replacement algorithm.

The linear replacement algorithm is a system where a large number ofspare areas are provided in a particular area on the disk so as toreplacement-record data to an appropriate sector in the spare area whena defective sector is detected, thereby ensuring the reliability ofinput data.

In recent years, AV processing environments have been improved inpersonal computer apparatuses, and it is becoming more common to enjoyaudio/video titles with a personal computer apparatus using a CD-ROM, orthe like, in which AV data is recorded as being compressed based on asystem such as the MPEG system.

However, since the conventional rewritable optical disk and the diskdrive apparatus therefor are designed while assuming the use forrecording/reproducing computer data, there are various problems whenrecording/reproducing AV data having different characteristics fromthose of computer data.

Typically, there is a problem that continuous video reproduction cannotbe ensured when reproducing AV data. This is because a defective sectordetected during the recording of the AV data is replacement-recordedusing a conventional defect management method, whereby the continuousreproduction of AV data is hampered by a delay associated with an accessto the spare area during data reproduction.

This problem is particularly conspicuous in the case of theabove-described linear replacement algorithm. For example, when adefective sector occurs in the innermost area of the disk while thespare area is provided in the outermost area of the disk, the head movesfrom the inner area of the disk to the outer area of the disk inaccessing the spare area, thereby resulting in a seek time of severalhundred milliseconds. Since picture reproduction of video at 30 framesper second is required, if such a seek time as long as several hundredmilliseconds is generated, the reproduced images will consequently beinterrupted.

A problem in AV data recording is that it is necessary to provide avariety of recording methods. For example, AV data to be transmitted inreal time via a broadcast wave, or the like, has to be recorded on thedisk in real time. On the other hand, when high quality AV data to bedownloaded via the internet, or the like, is asynchronously recorded onthe disk, the real time recording is not necessary, but data recordingwith high reliability is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems andhas an objective of providing method and apparatus for recording datawhich enable real time recording of AV data to a rewritable optical diskand continuous reproduction of the recorded AV data, a reproductionmethod, a reproduction apparatus and an information recording disktherefor, and an information processing system composed thereof.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A recording method of the present invention is a recording method forrecording an AV file including AV data using an information recordingdisk in which data is recorded/reproduced by sectors, the recordingmethod including the steps of: determining whether or not input data isAV data; detecting a defective sector existing in a data recording areaassigned for recording the input data; when it is determined that theinput data is the AV data and a defective sector is detected in the datarecording area, allocating a defective extent including the defectivesector; recording the AV data in continuous sectors while skipping thedefective extent; and allocating an area of continuous sectors whereonly the AV data is recorded as one AV extent, wherein an AV file isrecorded on the information recording disk, wherein the AV fileincludes: a defective extent, which includes, when a defective sector isincluded in the data recording area, the defective sector; and one ormore AV extents each including a plurality of continuous sectors,thereby realizing the above-described objective.

Only a sector where an address error is detected during a data recordingoperation may be detected as the defective sector.

The defective sector may include a sector where an address error isdetected during a data recording operation and a sector where a dataerror is detected during a data verification operation.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the defective extents may be allocated by ECCblocks.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the method may further include the step ofallocating, in the AV file, a padding extent which does not include AVdata.

The method may further include the step of recording attributeinformation for identifying the AV file including AV data, as part offile management information.

The method may further include the step of recording attributeinformation for identifying the defective extent and the AV extent, aspart of file management information, in such a format that the attributeinformation is in one-to-one correspondence with the respective extentsforming an AV file.

A recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatusfor recording AV data on an information recording disk in which data isrecorded/reproduced by sectors, the recording apparatus including: asection for determining whether or not input data is AV data; a sectionfor detecting a defective sector existing in a data recording areaassigned for recording the input data; and a section for recording theAV data in continuous sectors while skipping the defective sector,wherein AV data is recorded in a plurality of continuous sectors on theinformation recording disk while skipping a defective sector existing inthe data recording area, thereby realizing the above-describedobjective.

Only a sector where an address error is detected during a data recordingoperation may be detected as the defective sector.

The defective sector may include a sector where an address error isdetected during a data recording operation and a sector where a dataerror is detected during a data verification operation.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the defective sectors may be skipped by ECC blockseach including the defective sector.

An information processing system of the present invention is aninformation processing system including: the above-described recordingapparatus; and a control device for controlling the recording apparatus,the information processing system including: a section for allocating,in recording of an AV file, a defective sector detected by the recordingapparatus as a defective extent; and a section for allocating continuoussectors where only AV data is recorded by the recording apparatus as anAV extent, wherein an AV file is recorded on the information recordingdisk, the AV file including: a defective extent, which includes, when adefective sector is included in the data recording area, the defectivesector; and one or more AV extents each including a plurality ofcontinuous sectors, thereby realizing the above-described objective.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the control device may allocate the defectiveextent by ECC blocks each including a defective sector.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the control device may further include a sectionfor allocating a padding extent which does not include AV data, as partof the AV file.

The control device may further include a section for recording attributeinformation for identifying the AV file including AV data, as part offile management information.

The control device may further include a section for recording attributeinformation for identifying the defective extent and the AV extent, aspart of file management information, in such a format that the attributeinformation is in one-to-one correspondence with the respective extentsforming an AV file.

The control device may include a section for setting in the recordingapparatus an acceptable value for the total number of sectors skippedwhen a defective sector is detected during a recording operation for AVdata; and the recording apparatus may include a section for, after AVdata has been recorded while skipping defective sectors within a rangenot exceeding the acceptable value, informing the control device oflocation information of all the sectors skipped during a recordingoperation for AV data.

The recording apparatus may include a section for, each time a defectivesector is detected during a recording operation for AV data, informingthe control section of the detection of the defective sector along withlocation information of the defective sector; and the control sectionmay include a section for setting in the recording apparatus a newrecording start location for AV data each time the detection of thedefective sector is informed.

A reproduction method of the present invention is a reproduction methodfor performing data reproduction from the information recording disk onwhich the AV file is recorded using the above-described recordingmethod, the method including the step of, in an AV data reproductionoperation from the AV extent, performing a continuous data reproductionoperation while neglecting location information of areplacement-recorded defective sector and not performing a recoveryprocess even when an error occurs during data reproduction, therebyrealizing the above-described objective.

A reproduction apparatus of the present invention is a reproductionapparatus for performing data reproduction from the informationrecording disk on which the AV file is recorded using theabove-described recording method, the apparatus including a section for,in an AV data reproduction operation from the AV extent, performing acontinuous data reproduction operation while neglecting locationinformation of a replacement-recorded defective sector and notperforming a recovery process even when an error occurs during datareproduction, thereby realizing the above-described objective.

An information recording disk of the present invention is an informationrecording disk in which an AV file including AV data isrecorded/reproduced by sectors, wherein the AV file includes: adefective extent, which includes, when a defective sector is included inthe data recording area assigned for file recording, the defectivesector; and one or more AV extents recorded in a plurality of continuoussectors where only the AV data is recorded, thereby realizing theabove-described objective.

Only a sector where an address error may be detected during a datarecording operation is regarded as the defective sector.

The defective sector may include a sector where an address error isdetected during a data recording operation and a sector where a dataerror is detected during a data verification operation.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the defective extents may be allocated by ECCblocks.

When using an information recording disk where an ECC block has aplurality of sectors, the AV file may include a padding extent whichdoes not include AV data.

Attribute information for identifying the AV file including AV data maybe further recorded as part of file management information.

Attribute information for identifying the defective extent and the AVextent may be further recorded, as part of file management information,in such a format that the attribute information is in one-to-onecorrespondence with the respective extents forming an AV file.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a recording operation for AV dataaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a recording operation for an AV fileincluding creation of file management information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a file and filemanagement information.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are each a diagram illustrating a physical structure ofan optical disk such as a DVD-RAM.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a volume space.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a physical sector structure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a structure of an ECC block.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a directory structure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating how an AV file is recorded.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of an allocationdescriptor.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are each a diagram illustrating interpretation of theupper two bits of an extent length included in the allocationdescriptor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a recording state of a disk on whichan AV file and a computer file are mixedly recorded.

FIG. 13 illustrates a data structure for free area management in AV filerecording.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method for reproducing an AVfile.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of an informationprocessing system of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a protocol used between a controlsection and a disk recording drive when recording in real time AV datareceived via a broadcast wave.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a protocol used between a controlsection and a disk reproduction drive in a reproduction operation for AVdata recorded on an information recording disk.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating another structure of theinformation processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a protocol used between a controlsection and a disk recording drive when asynchronously recording AV datareceived via the internet on an information recording disk.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating processes performed by acontrol section and a microprocessor, respectively, in real timerecording of AV data.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating processes performed by a controlsection in asynchronous recording of AV data.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file/directorystructure.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating a data structure and logicalrelationship of the primary file management information defined by theISO 13346 standard.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a data structure for defect managementused for recording a computer file.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the ICB tag.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of flag fieldsincluded in an ICB tag.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, a rewritable optical disk, and a data recording method anda data reproduction method therefor will be described as an example ofthe present invention.

(1) Optical Disk

(1-1) Physical Structure

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4D, 5, 6 and 7, the physical structure of aDVD-RAM disk, which is a rewritable optical disk, will be described.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are diagrams each illustrating the physical structure ofa DVD-RAM disk. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the DVD-RAM disk includes,from the inner area thereof, a lead-in area, a data area and a lead-outarea. Digital data is recorded in each area and is managed in unitscalled sectors.

FIG. 6 illustrates a structure of a sector. Data to be recorded in eachsector is optically recorded as a recording mark on the land and grooveportions based on a phase change recording system, and the physicaladdress corresponding to each sector is physically recorded as pits inthe header region. Two Kbytes of data are stored in the sector.Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 7, an ECC (Error Correcting Code)operation is performed for each group of 16 sectors by providing aparity code thereto for the purpose of error correction. Hereinafter,such a group will be referred to as an ECC block.

Herein, it should be noted that the rewritable information capacity isdoubled in the DVD-RAM by allowing data to be written on the grooveportion, as well as on the land portion, thus being a disk medium bettersuited for recording video information.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, a data area is further divided into 24 zonesnumbered from 0 to 23, and data is recorded in each zone by physicalsectors each of 2048 bytes. Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, adefect management area (DMA) is provided in the lead-in area and in thelead-out area, and the replacement location information of an ECC block,which has been replaced based on the linear replacement algorithm, willbe recorded therein.

As illustrated in FIG. 4C, each zone in the data area is composed of auser area for recording user data and a replacement region for replacinga defective sector. Logical sector numbers (LSNs) are assigned to thephysical sectors in the user areas, starting from the inner area. Thus,a volume area for recording user data is formed, as illustrated in FIG.4D.

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of a volume space including the userareas of the respective zones, wherein volume structures for handlingthe disk as a logical volume are provided respectively in the inner areaand in the outer area, while a partition space is allocatedtherebetween, in which files are recorded by a user. In the partitionspace, logical block numbers (LBNs) are assigned to the respectivesectors, starting from the leading sector thereof.

(1-2) File System Structure

Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 8, 10, 11A and 11B, a file system structureof the DVD-RAM will be described. The file system is a data structurefor managing data recorded by sectors as files and directories. The filesystem of the present embodiment is in conformity with the file systemdefined by the ISO/IEC 13346 standard.

FIG. 8 illustrates a directory structure after an AV file is recorded.Directory A is under the root directory, while file B and an AV file areunder directory A.

C2 in FIG. 3 illustrates a data structure of the partition space, inwhich the files illustrated in FIG. 8 are recorded.

Space bit map descriptors are recorded in LBNs 0 to 79. The space bitmap descriptors each have a space bit map indicating whether each sectoris allocatable or not. When the operation ip(x) represents the integralportion of x, while the operation rem(a,b) represents a-bxip(a/b), thesector allocation information of a sector at LBN s is registered at bitrem(s,8) in byte ip(s/8) in the space bit map. When the bit value is 1,the sector is unallocated, while 0 means allocated. In the example ofC4, the bits corresponding to the unallocated sectors at LBNs 84 to 583,586 to 3584 and 3888 to the end are set to 1.

A file set descriptor is recorded at LBN 80. In the case of a file entryof the root directory, the location information is recorded in the fileset descriptor.

A terminating descriptor is recorded at LBN 81. The terminatingdescriptor indicates the end of the file set descriptor.

A file entry is recorded at LBN 82.

Since the ISO 13346 standard accommodates a rewritable disk, as well asa read only disk, the recording location of the file is stored andmanaged in information called a file entry.

In a file entry, various attribute information particular to the fileand the recording location of the file are recorded. In a directory, thefile names of the files included in the directory and the locationinformation of the file entries are recorded.

A file entry indicates the recording address of a file existing in thepartition space by an allocation descriptor field. C6 illustrates thestructure of the file entry.

A descriptor tag is provided for identifying a descriptor such as aspace bit map descriptor. In the case of a file entry, 261 is describedas the descriptor tag, indicating a file entry.

An ICB tag is for indicating the attribute information relating to thefile entry itself.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the structure of an ICB tag, whileFIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating the structure of flag fields of theICB tag. In FIG. 25, there is a flag field of 2 bytes at RBP 18 in theICB tag. In FIG. 26, a flag indicating whether the file is an AV file ornot is assigned to the ninth bit in the flag field. When an AV file isidentified from this flag, AV data is recorded in the group of sectorsforming the file.

Extended attributes are for describing attribute information of a moreadvanced level than the level defined by the attribute information fieldin the file entry.

The allocation descriptor is for managing an area including continuoussectors as one extent. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the allocationdescriptor has the extent length and the location information thereof.FIG. 11A illustrates the interpretation of the upper two bits of theextent length included in the allocation descriptor of a non-AV file. Itis thus possible to indicate whether the extent has been allocated ornot and whether it has been recorded or not. FIG. 11B illustrates theinterpretation of the upper two bits of the extent length included inthe allocation descriptor of an AV file. It is thus possible to indicatewhether the extent is an AV extent, a defective extent or a paddingextent.

Hereinafter, as supplementary description, an operation of the diskreproduction drive apparatus for acquiring a sector address storing adesired file will be described.

FIG. 22 illustrates an example of a file/directory structure. An ellipserepresents a directory while a rectangle represents a file. In thisexample, a directory, DVD_VIDEO, and two files, File1.DAT and File2.DAT,exist under the Root directory. The directory DVD_VIDEO further includesa total of three files, Movie1.VOB, Movie2.VOB and Movie3.VOB.

FIG. 23 illustrates logical relationship of data in the file managementinformation based on the ISO 13346 standard.

Since the ISO 13346 standard accommodates a rewritable disk, as well asa read only disk, the recording location of the file is stored andmanaged in information called a file entry.

For example, the recording location of the file entry for the AV fileMovie1.VOB is stored as a file identifier descriptor in the DVD_VIDEOdirectory file. The recording location of the file entry for theDVD_VIDEO directory file is stored as a file identifier descriptor inthe ROOT directory file. Moreover, the recording location of the fileentry for the ROOT directory file is stored in a file set descriptor.Furthermore, the file set descriptor is recorded in a predeterminedlocation as a part of the file management information. With such astructure, the recording location of the target file can be acquired byfirst referring to the file set descriptor and then following the fileentries starting from the ROOT directory according to the directoryhierarchical structure. A directory file has a plurality of fileidentifier descriptors, and each file identifier descriptor includes therecording address and the file name of the file entry of the file ordirectory managed by the directory.

(1-3) Defective Sector Management Method 1: for Computer Data

When recording computer data on the above-described DVD_RAM, the linearreplacement algorithm is employed as a defect management method. In thelinear replacement algorithm, the computer data is first recorded in theuser area. When a defective sector is detected during the recordingoperation by detecting an address error, a verify error, or the like, anECC block including the defective sector is recorded in a spare areaillustrated in FIG. 4C, while the location information of the replacedECC block is recorded as defect management information in the defectmanagement area (DMA) provided in the lead-in area and in the lead-outarea.

FIG. 24 illustrates the data structure of the defect management area. Asillustrated in FIG. 24, the defect management area includes a diskdefinition sector and a defect list. The disk definition sector storesthe location information of the defect list. The defect list includes adefect entry having pairs of leading addresses (address A and address C)of ECC blocks, which each include a defective sector, and leadingaddresses (address B and address D) of other ECC blocks respectivelyreplacing the ECC blocks. Such a defective sector is detected whenformatting the disk, when recording data to the disk, or the like. Theexample illustrated in FIG. 24 shows that the ECC block starting fromaddress A in the data area is replaced by the ECC block starting fromaddress B, while the ECC block starting from address C is replaced bythe ECC block starting from address D. Thus, in the linear replacementalgorithm, defective sectors are managed in an integrated manner by thedefect management information recorded in the defect management area.

(1-4) Defective Sector Management Method 2: for AV Data

Hereinafter, the outline of the defect management method will bedescribed, which is a feature of the present invention and used whenrecording AV data on the above-described DVD-RAM. Herein, AV data refersto, for example, data including a sound or a video compressed by MPEG.For example, when a defective sector, for which address cannot bereproduced, is detected during an AV data recording operation, the ECCblock including the defective sector is skipped, and the data isrecorded from the beginning of the following ECC block. The recordinglocation of the ECC block including the defective sector is registeredin the file entry as one allocation descriptor. Moreover, when a largenumber of defective sectors are detected in the AV file recordingoperation, the location information of the defective sectors isregistered in the file entry for the AV file using separate allocationdescriptors. Thus, such a defect management method is different from theconventional linear replacement method in that the location informationof the replaced ECC block is never recorded in the defect managementarea provided in the lead-in area or in the lead-out area.

Moreover, in an AV file reproduction operation, since the AV data isreproduced while skipping defective sectors with reference to theallocation descriptors in the file entry, the disk reproduction drive isable to reproduce AV data while skipping the defective sectors withoutmanaging the addresses of the defective sectors.

(2) Data Recording Method

Hereinafter, a method for recording AV data to the above-describedDVD-RAM will be described. FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating arecording operation for AV data according to the present invention.

First, it is determined whether the input data is AV data or not (stepA1). This determination is based on the type of command sent from thehost, the mode in which data is transferred from the host, or the like.For example, when Write_AV command is sent for recording AV data, it isdetermined to be AV data, while it is determined to be normal computerdata when normal Write command is sent.

When recording file management information and computer data includingcode data, they are recorded based on the conventional linearreplacement algorithm while verifying the defective sectors (step A2).

In the case of AV data, it is further determined (step A3) whether thedata is the AV data which requires real time recording, such as thosesent from a digital video movie, digital broadcasting, or the like, orthe AV data which can be asynchronously recorded while preferentiallyensuring the reliability thereof, such as data downloaded from theinternet. For example, when the synchronous mode is set as the datatransfer mode from the host computer to the recording apparatus, it isdetermined to be real time recording, while it is determined to benon-real time recording when the asynchronous mode is set.Alternatively, it can be determined to be real time recording when thedata is transferred from a digital video movie, or the like, based onthe type of equipment connected to the recording apparatus, while it canbe determined to be non-real time recording when the data is transferredfrom network equipment such as those used for the internet.

In the recording operation for AV data which requires real timerecording, when an address error is detected from the target sector, theECC block including the sector is skipped, and the data is recorded fromthe leading sector in the following ECC block (steps A4 to A6). Byrecording data while skipping ECC blocks including defective sectors asdescribed above, it is possible to continue the data recording operationwithout performing any seek operation even if a defective sector isdetected, unlike the replacement recording for computer data asillustrated in FIG. 4C.

In the recording operation for AV data for which the asynchronousrecording is applied while preferentially ensuring the reliabilitythereof, when a defective sector having an address error is detectedduring the data recording, the ECC block including the defective sectoris skipped, and the data is recorded from the leading sector in thefollowing ECC block (steps A7 to A9), as described above. Then, therecorded data is read out and verified. If a defective sector includinga data error is detected, the recorded data is recorded in the followingECC block (steps A10 to A12). By performing such a data recordingoperation, a defective sector is reliably detected, while it can berecorded in the following ECC block, rather than in a spare area,whereby a video or a sound can be reproduced uninterruptedly. Whencompleting the data recording for a continuous area which is previouslyspecified by a command, or the like, data recording is resumed for thenext continuous area (steps A13 to A14).

For simply illustrating the data recording operation for the DVD-RAMdisk in which an ECC block is composed of a plurality of sectors, it isassumed in the above description that the entire ECC block including adefective sector is skipped. However, it is apparent that it is possibleto similarly perform a data recording method in which only the defectivesector, rather than the entire ECC block, is skipped. Moreover, thedefective sector is skipped by sectors also in the case where the ECCblock has the same size as the sector size.

C3 in FIG. 3 illustrates the data structure of the disk, on which an AVfile is recorded by the above-described recording method. Hereinafter,the data structure will be described referring to FIG. 9, whichdescribes C2 and C3 of FIG. 3 in detail. A first continuous area at LBNs592 to 3567 and a second continuous area at LBN 3888 to the end, bothunallocated, are previously specified as recording areas for the AV fileso that the recording is made from the beginning of the ECC block. Whenrecording AV data which requires real time recording, the AV datarecording is first performed from the leading sector in the firstcontinuous area. Then, an address error is detected from the sector atLBN 1600, whereby the ECC block (16 sectors) including this defectivesector is skipped, and the AV data is recorded in the following ECCblock is performed, starting at LBN 1616. Following the completion ofthe data recording operation for the first continuous area, a datarecording operation for the second continuous area, which starts at LBN3888, is performed. When recording AV data for which the asynchronousrecording is applied while preferentially ensuring the reliabilitythereof, if a data error is detected from the sector at LBN 1600, theECC block including the defective sector is skipped and the AV data isrecorded in the following ECC block, as described above. Thus, the realtime recording and the asynchronous recording both employ the same datastructure since AV data is recorded while skipping an ECC blockincluding a defective sector in both cases. Therefore, when reproducingAV data, defective extent S is skipped while only AV extents A, B and Care read out in the same manner. Even when unallocated areas existdiscretely on the disk, uninterrupted reproduction of a video or a soundis ensured during the AV data reproduction, as long as an amount of datamore than a predetermined amount can be recorded in each of theunallocated areas while the distance between the unallocated areas is ina range which allows for the areas to be accessed within a predeterminedamount of time. This is because the AV data read out from the disk bythe disk reproduction apparatus is reproduced after it is temporarilystored in a track buffer, or the like. In other words, since AV datastored in the buffer is reproduced during an access operation betweencontinuous areas, the continuous reproduction of a video or a sound ismaintained even if data reproduction from the disk is temporarilydiscontinued.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, a method for creating and registering filemanagement information for AV file according to the present inventionwill be described.

First, it is determined whether the file to be recorded is an AV file ornot. This determination is based on, for example, the file nameextension or the file's attribute provided by an application program, auser, or the like (step B1). In the case of file management informationsuch as a directory file or a data file for computers, a file recordingoperation and a file management information registration are performedbased on the conventional file system of ISO 13346 (step B2). When thefile to be recorded is an AV file, a continuous free area of 5 MB orlarger is searched for by ECC blocks based on the contents of the spacebit map (step B3). For example, in C4 of FIG. 3, the continuous area atLBNs 592 to 3567 and the continuous area at LBN 3888 to the end aresearched for as the continuous free area. Then, based on the recordingmethod described above with reference to FIG. 1, AV data is recorded tothe searched free area while skipping defective sectors (step B4). Inorder to manage the location information where AV data is recorded, thelocation information of an area in which only AV data is recorded isregistered as an AV extent, the location information of a skipped ECCblock is registered as a defective extent, and the location informationof an area in the terminal portion of the file where padding data forcompleting the ECC block is recorded is registered as a padding extent,respectively in the file management information (step B5). In C3 of FIG.3, extents A, B and C are each an area where AV data is recorded, extentS is an area which has been skipped because of a defective sectordetected therein, and extent E is an area in the terminal portion of thefile where padding data is recorded. The respective extents areregistered, as illustrated in C7, as separate allocation descriptors inthe file entry (C6) of the AV file. Then, attribute information isregistered in the file entry, in which an AV attribute bit is setindicating that the recorded file is an AV file (step B6). In C6 of FIG.3, the AV attribute bit is set as a contiguous bit defined in the ICBtag. Finally, in order to set the area where the AV file is recorded asallocated, bits corresponding to extents A, S, B, C and E in the spacebit map are set to 0 indicating allocated (step B7). For example, in C5of FIG. 3, bits from bit 7 in byte 73 to bit 7 in byte 445 and bits frombit 0 in byte 486 to bit 7 in byte 799 are set to 0. By providing such adata structure, it is determined whether the reproduced file is an AVfile or not from the file attribute information shown in FIG. 26. Then,if the file is an AV file, the reproduction operation can be performedonly using the location information of the AV extent registered in thefile entry while neglecting the defect management information recordedin the defect management area. In the data reproduction operation,extent S and extent E are not used since no AV data is recorded therein.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 12, the data structure of a disk in whicha computer file and an AV file are mixedly recorded will be described.If the sector at LBN 3586 which is assigned for recording file B, acomputer file, is a defective sector, the ECC block (LBNs 3584 to 3599)including the defective sector is recorded in a spare area, and thedefect management information is recorded in the defect management area.Herein, since the replacement recording is performed by ECC blocks, thefile entry of file B and a portion of file A are simultaneously recordedin the spare area. If file A is an AV file, and a portion of the AV dataincluded in the AV file is recorded in the same ECC block where acomputer file is recorded, then, the AV data will also be recorded inthe spare area. In order that AV data and computer data are not mixedlyrecorded in an ECC block, an AV file is allocated to align with an ECCblock boundary, as illustrated in FIG. 12. Thus, each AV file startsfrom the leading sector in an ECC block, and defective sectors areskipped by ECC blocks, while a padding extent filled with padding datais allocated to each sector where AV data is not recorded so that the AVfile allocation is made up to the end of the ECC block. By providingsuch a data structure, a continuous reproduction operation for AV datais ensured without accessing any spare area.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 13, an example of a method for managingfree areas in AV file recording will be described. As described abovewith reference to FIG. 9, a free area for recording an AV file is firstsearched for. Then, the first continuous area at LBNs 592 to 3567 andthe second continuous area at LBN 3888 to the end are assigned as thefree area. Subsequently, an AV reserved file is created by recording afile entry in which these free areas are managed as allocated andunrecorded extents. At the same time, the area in which the file entryis recorded and the two allocated continuous areas are registered in thespace bit map as allocated. An AV file is recorded, by the methoddescribed above with reference to FIG. 1, from the beginning of theallocated extent which has been previously registered in the AV reservedfile. When these free areas are allocated as areas for recording the AVreserved file, in advance of the AV data recording, even if a recordingoperation for an AV file and a recording operation for a computer fileare performed in parallel in a multi-task environment, the computer fileis assigned to a remaining unallocated area, whereby it is possible toprevent the AV data and data of a computer file from being erroneouslyassigned in the same ECC block.

(3) Data Reproduction Method

Hereinafter, a method for reproducing an AV file according to thepresent invention will be described, along with a reproduction operationfor file management information.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method for reproducing an AVfile. First, the AV attribute bit is read out from the file entry of afile to be reproduced (step D1). The AV attribute bit is included in theICB tag, as illustrated in C6 of FIG. 3. As described above, the AVattribute bit is a contiguous bit described in FIG. 26 and is attributeinformation for determining whether an AV file or not. This bit being 1indicates an AV file, while this bit being 0 indicates a non-AV filesuch as a computer file. Based on the value of the AV attribute bit, itis determined whether the file is an AV file or not (step D2). Then, ifthe file is a computer file, it is read out by the conventional methodfor computer files (step D3). On the other hand, in the case of an AVfile, an allocation descriptor field registered in the file entry of theAV file is read out, and the location information of the respective AVextents included in the AV file is sequentially read out (step D4).Moreover, the reproduction apparatus is instructed to read out AV datafrom each AV extent (step D5). Herein, the reproduction apparatuscontinuously reads out only AV data from the AV extents while neglectingthe replacement sector information registered in the defect list on thedisk and while performing no recovery operation even when an addresserror or a data error is detected during a reproduction operation (stepD6). Finally, it is determined whether the AV data has been reproducedfrom all the AV extents included in the AV file (step D7). Then, ifthere is an unreproduced AV extent, steps D5 and D6 are repeated again.By performing such a reproduction operation, the AV file which has beenrecorded by the method of FIG. 1 is continuously reproduced while thevideo or the sound is not interrupted.

Although the recording/reproduction operations of the present inventionhave been described with a DVD-RAM disk, it is apparent that similarrecording/reproduction operations can be performed with, for example, amagnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk, as long as it is a recordingmedium with a large capacity on which an AV file can be recorded.

For simply illustrating the data recording operation for the DVD-RAMdisk in which an ECC block is composed of a plurality of sectors, it isassumed in the above description that the entire ECC block including adefective sector is skipped. However, it is apparent that it is possibleto similarly perform a data reproduction method in which only thedefective sector, rather than the entire ECC block, is skipped.Moreover, the defective sector is skipped by sectors also in the casewhere the ECC block has the same size as the sector size.

Although the present invention has been described while assuming thatthe AV extent, the defective extent and the padding extent are eachidentified using a portion of an allocation descriptor described in FIG.11B, it is apparent that the extent attribute identification is notlimited to such attribute information, but can be assigned to anotherdescriptor, another bit, or the like. For example, it is also possibleto define a data structure of a new allocation descriptor and to providea field indicating the extent attribute information.

The padding extent is not limited to those provided in the terminalportion of a file. For example, when the size of the AV extent isreduced while editing an AV file, the area in the AV extent in which AVdata is no longer recorded may be registered as a new padding extent. Insuch a case, the padding extent is allocated in a leading portion or anintermediate portion of the file.

In the above description of the present invention, an area including adefective sector detected during a recording operation for an AV file isregistered as a defective extent. Other than such a method, it ispossible, for example, to define a special file for managing a defectiveextent and the file attribute information thereof so as to assign andmanage a file which is composed only of defective extents.

Although a space bit map has been used as information for managingunallocated areas on the disk in the above description, they can also bemanaged by using a space table.

Although the present invention has been described while assuming thesize of a continuous free area allocated for recording an AV file to be5 MB or larger, it is obvious that the size may differ depending uponthe buffer capacity, the access performance, or the like, of thereproduction apparatus.

Although an AV reserved file is registered for allocating a continuousfree area for recording an AV file in the above description of thepresent invention, it is also possible to previously allocate acontinuous free area using a new bit map, a table, or the like.

When reproducing AV data from AV extents by the reproduction method ofthe present invention, it is obvious that continuous data reproductioncan be more reliably performed if the reproduction apparatus reads aheadthe AV data while storing the AV data in cache during reproduction.

Embodiment 2

Hereinafter, an information processing system including arecording/reproduction apparatus for recording/reproducing data to/fromthe above-described DVD-RAM disk and a control device for controllingthe same will be described as Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the informationprocessing system of the present invention.

R1 denotes a control section; R2 denotes an MPEG encoder; R3 denotes adisk recording/reproduction drive; R4 denotes an MPEG decoder; R5denotes a video signal processing section; R6 denotes a hard disk drive;R7 denotes an I/O bus; R8 denotes an input section; R9 denotes arewritable phase change type optical disk; and R10 denotes a receiver.

The control section R1 includes a CPU R1 a, a main memory R1 d, a businterface R1 c and a processor bus R1 b. Based on a program stored inthe main memory R1 d, the control section R1 performs an AV fileidentification process, a read out location indication process, arecording area searching process, a process for calculating theacceptable number of skips and a file system information creationprocess, as illustrated in FIG. 20A.

The disk recording/reproduction drive R3 includes: a microprocessor R3 dfor controlling the entire drive; a bus control circuit R3 a forcontrolling transmission/reception of a command or data to/from thecontrol section R1 via an IDE (Intelligent Drive Electronics) bus; adata recording/reproduction/verification section R3 e for performingdata reproduction including data recording and data verificationoperations to the phase change type optical disk R9; a buffer section R3b for temporarily storing recording data, reproduction data, and dataread out for data verification; and a buffer control section R3 c forcontrolling data transfer of the buffer section. The microprocessor R3 dperforms a skip recording control operation, as illustrated in FIG. 20B.

The phase change type optical disk R9 is the DVD-RAM disk as describedabove in Embodiment 1.

Hereinafter, the operation of recording AV data received by the receiverR10 via a broadcast wave to the phase change type optical disk R9 willbe described with reference to FIG. 16. Herein, it is assumed that thefile system information recorded on the phase change type optical diskR9 has already been read out and stored in the main memory R1 d in thecontrol section.

FIG. 16 illustrates a protocol used between the control section R1 andthe disk recording drive R3 in an operation for recording AV data, whichis moving image information received by the receiver R10 via a broadcastwave, to the phase change type optical disk R9.

(P101) The recording area searching process by the control section R1selects a continuous free area for recording an AV file by referring tothe file system information which is previously read out and stored inthe main memory R1 d when the phase change type optical disk R9 ismounted. In the process for calculating the acceptable number of skips,the number of ECC blocks which can be skipped by the disk recordingdrive R3 is calculated from the file system information.

(P102 to P103) The control section R1 issues “SKIP WRITE AV (ADR, LEN,SKIP_LEN)” as a command to record AV data while skipping the ECC blockincluding the defective sector detected by the recording drive R3.Herein, the parameter ADR denotes the starting address of datarecording; LEN denotes the number of blocks to be recorded; and SKIP_LENdenotes the maximum value for the number of ECC blocks to be skipped(hereinafter, referred to as the “acceptable number of skips”). Whenreceiving the “SKIP WRITE AV”, the disk recording drive R3 starts arecording operation for AV data transferred.

(P104) When a defective sector having an address error is detected whilethe disk recording drive R3 is recording AV data, the ECC blockincluding the defective sector is regarded as a defect ECC block. Then,the starting address of the ECC block is internally stored, and a datarecording operation is performed to the following ECC block.

(P105) When the disk recording drive R3 detects a defect ECC block, andthe defect ECC block is accordingly skipped, if the preset acceptablenumber of skips is exceeded, the disk recording drive R3 stops the datarecording operation, while reporting an error status to the controlsection R1 and returning detailed error information (Skip Sector Over)to the control section R1, indicating that the acceptable number ofskips is exceeded. On the other hand, when all AV data has been recordedwithout performing a skip operation, the disk recording drive R3 returnsa normal completion status to the control section R1. Moreover, when allAV data has been recorded with skip operations within the specifiedacceptable number of skips, the disk recording drive R3 returns to thecontrol section R1 detailed error information (Recovered Error),indicating that the recording has been performed with skip operationswithin the skip sector number, along with the error status.

(P106) When receiving the detailed error information indicatingRecovered Error, the control section R1 issues a command “SEND SKIPPEDSECTOR”, requesting the address information of the skipped ECC blocks.

(P107) Address information of all the defect ECC blocks which have beenstored during the recording operation is transferred to the controlsection R1, when the disk recording drive R3 receives the “SEND SKIPPEDSECTOR” command.

Hereinafter, the reproduction operation for an AV file recorded on thephase change type optical disk R9 will be described with reference toFIG. 17.

FIG. 17 illustrates a protocol used between the control section R1 andthe disk reproduction drive R3 in an operation for reproducing the AVdata recorded on the phase change type optical disk R9.

(P201) The control section R1 determines, from the file systeminformation, that the file requested to be read out is an AV file.

(P202) The control section R1 issues a “READ AV” command, requesting toread out AV data from AV extents included in the AV file.

(P203 to P204) When receiving the “READ AV” command, the diskreproduction drive R3 continuously performs a data reproductionoperation without referring to the defect list, and continues the datareproduction operation even when an address error or a data erroroccurs. Then, the disk reproduction drive R3 transfers the reproduceddata to the control section R1.

(P205) The control section R1 sequentially transfers the read out datato the MPEG decoder R4, thereby outputting an analog AV signal via amonitor display and a loudspeaker.

(P206) The disk reproduction drive R3 transfers a normal completionstatus to the control section R1.

According to the present embodiment, even if a defective sector isdetected during a data recording operation, the data is recorded in thefollowing ECC block while skipping the ECC block including the defectivesector, whereby it is possible to record in real time AV data receivedvia a broadcast wave, which requires real time recording. Moreover, inthe data reproduction operation, it is not necessary to access the sparearea as in the linear replacement algorithm; therefore it is possible toensure continuous video or sound reproduction.

In the present embodiment, when a different file is recorded followingthe area allocated for recording an AV file, in order to prevent thearea, where the following file is recorded, from being overwritten by AVdata, the disk recording drive is allowed to skip ECC blocks within theacceptable number of skips. However, in the case where no valid file isrecorded in the following area, it is neither necessary to limit theacceptable number of skips nor to calculate the acceptable number ofskips.

Although, in the present embodiment, the number of ECC blocks allowed tobe skipped during a recording operation for AV data is set in the diskrecording drive R3, the present invention is not limited to such amethod. For example, it is apparent that, by previously setting theterminal address of the area where AV data can be recorded, the diskrecording drive R3 is able to perform the recording operation whileskipping ECC blocks within the area up to the terminal address, therebyobtaining the effect of the present invention.

Embodiment 3

Next, an information processing system including arecording/reproduction apparatus for recording/reproducing data to/fromthe above-described DVD-RAM disk and a control device for controllingthe same will be described as Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Thedifference from Embodiment 2 above is that AV data is input via theinternet, rather than a broadcast wave. Accordingly, the real timerecording is not performed, but the more reliable asynchronous recordingis performed.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of the informationprocessing system of the present invention.

N1 denotes a control section; N2 denotes a network card; N3 denotes adisk recording/reproduction drive; N4 denotes an MPEG decoder; N5denotes a video signal processing section; N6 denotes a hard disk drive;N7 denotes an I/O bus; N8 denotes an input section; N9 denotes arewritable phase change type optical disk; N10 denotes the internet; andN11 denotes a server.

The structure of the control section N1 is identical to that of thecontrol section R1 illustrated in FIG. 15. The control section N1operates based on a program stored in a main memory N1 d, performing anAV file identification process, a read out location indication process,a recording area searching process, a recording control process and afile system information creation process, as illustrated in FIG. 21.

The structure of the disk recording/reproduction drive N3 is identicalto that of the disk recording/reproduction drive R3 illustrated in FIG.15.

The phase change type optical disk N9 is the DVD-RAM disk as describedabove in Embodiment 1.

Hereinafter, an operation of recording, to the phase change type opticaldisk N9 via the network card N2, AV data transferred from the server N11via the internet N10 will be described with reference to FIG. 18.Herein, it is assumed that the file system information on the phasechange type optical disk N9 has already been read out and stored in themain memory N1 d in the control section N1. The network card N2 isconnected to the internet N10, thus receiving data sent from the serverN11.

FIG. 19 illustrates a protocol used between the control section N1 andthe disk recording drive N3 in an operation for asynchronously recordingAV data received via the internet N10 to the phase change type opticaldisk N9.

(P301) The recording area searching process by the control section N1selects a continuous free area for recording an AV file by referring tothe file system information which has been previously read out.

(P302) The recording control process by the control section N1 issues a“WRITE & VERIFY AV (ADR2, LEN2)” command, requesting to record AV datato the area selected in (P301). Herein, the parameter ADR denotes thestarting address of data recording; and LEN denotes the number of blocksto be recorded. The “WRITE & VERIFY AV” command requests to neglect thedefect list and to return the error status and the address informationof the defective sector without performing a replacement operation whena defective sector is detected during the recording operation.

(P303) The recording control process by the control section N1transfers, to the disk recording drive N3, the AV data to be recorded atthe “WRITE AV” command.

(P304 to P306) The disk recording drive N3 continuously records AV datain the specified area without referring to the defect list. Whendetecting a defective sector having an address error, a data error, orthe like, during the recording operation for AV data, the disk recordingdrive N3 does not perform a replacement operation but stops therecording operation, and returns the error status and the defectivesector address information to the control section N1.

(P307) The control section N1 stores the address information of thedefective sector in the main memory N1 d.

(P308 to P309) The recording control process by the control section N1issues “WRITE & VERIFY AV (ADR3, LEN3)” command, while setting the ECCblock following the ECC block including the defective sector as thestarting address based on the address information stored in (P308), soas to resend the unrecorded data (including data to be recorded in theECC block including the defective sector) to the disk recording driveN3.

(P310 to P311) The disk recording drive N3 continuously records AV datain the specified area without referring to the defect list based on thenewly-set starting address. When completing the specified data recordingoperation without an error, the disk recording drive N3 returns a normalcompletion status to the control section N1.

In advance of the recording operation for AV data described above withreference to FIG. 19, the control section N1 issues a command “READ(ADR1, LEN1)” for requesting to read out the file system information soas to refer to free areas on the phase change type optical disk N9.Herein, the “READ” command requests to read out a number of blocks asspecified by LEN starting from the sector having the address specifiedby the first parameter ADR, while performing a replacement operationusing the defect list. When receiving the “READ” command, the diskrecording drive N3 reads out the specified file system informationreferring to the defect list. Thus, when there is a defect block in thearea where the file system information is recorded, data reproduction isperformed by an ECC unit from an alternate block assigned in a sparearea. The disk recording drive N3 transfers the file system informationread out from the phase change type optical disk N9 to the controlsection N1.

After completing the recording operation for AV data described abovewith reference to FIG. 19, the file system information creation processby the control section N1 registers the ECC block including thedefective sector stored in (P307) as a defective extent and continuousareas where AV data of the AV file is recorded as an AV extent.Moreover, in the space bit map, bits for managing the respective sectorsin the area, where the defective extent and the AV extent are allocated,are registered as allocated.

The file system information creation process by the control section N1requests, by a “WRITE & VERIFY (ADR4, LEN4)” command, the disk recordingdrive N3 to register the file system information updated by the filesystem information creation process. Herein, the “WRITE & VERIFY”command is a command to verify that the data can be reproduced under acondition more severe than that for normal reproduction after thecompletion of the data recording operation. The command requests, when adefective sector is detected in both the recording process and theverification process, to register it in the defect list and to perform areplacement process. When there is an ECC block including analready-detected defective sector in the specified recording area, itrequests to record the ECC block in the replacement destination and toperform a verification operation for the recorded ECC block. Then, thedisk recording drive N3 performs the specified data recording andverification processes while controlling a data recording/verificationsection N3 e with reference to the defect list. After normallyprocessing the “WRITE & VERIFY” command, the disk recording drive N3returns the normal completion status to the control section N1.

The recording operation for an AV file has been described hitherto. Thedescription of the reproduction operation for the AV file is omitted asit is the same as that in Embodiment 2.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the recordedsector is tested after AV data has been recorded in order to improve thereliability of the recorded data, whereby it is possible to ensureuninterrupted reproduction of a video or a sound during datareproduction while ensuring the same reliability of data as that ensuredby the conventional recording method.

A combination of a control mainly for the disk recording drive (FIG. 16)and a structure of the analog video receiving section and the MPEGencoder (FIG. 15) has been described in Embodiment 2, while acombination of a control mainly for the control section (e.g., apersonal computer) (FIG. 19) and a structure of the digital interfaceand the digital video retrieving section (FIG. 18) has been described inEmbodiment 3. However, the present invention is not limited to such aparticular system structure. The control mainly for the disk recordingdrive (FIG. 16) may be combined with the structure of the digitalinterface and the digital video retrieving section (FIG. 18), while thecontrol mainly for the control section (e.g., a personal computer) (FIG.19) may be combined with the structure of the analog video receivingsection and the MPEG encoder (FIG. 15).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, even if a defective sector isdetected while recording AV data, the following ECC block data isrecorded while skipping the ECC block including the defective sector.Thus, an access to the spare area is not required at all, whereby it ispossible to record in real time AV data to an information recording diskand to continuously reproduce the AV data recorded on the informationrecording disk.

Moreover, according to the present invention, it is possible to verifywhether or not the AV data recorded on the information recording diskhas been properly recorded. Thus, it is possible to ensure uninterruptedreproduction of a video or a sound during data reproduction whileensuring the same reliability of data as that ensured by theconventional recording method.

1. A recording method for recording data onto an information recordingdisk including a volume space, comprising: determining whether a file isan AV file including AV data; when it is determined that the file is theAV file, searching for at least one unrecorded area which has apredetermined size or a larger size; and recording the AV data in the atleast one searched unrecorded area, wherein the at least one searchedunrecorded area includes at least one Error Correcting Code (ECC) block,and the recording of the AV data starts from a leading sector in an ECCblock; and filling an area in the ECC block from the end of the recordedAV data to at least one boundary of the ECC block with padding data,wherein the predetermined size is determined based on a buffer capacityincluded in a reproduction apparatus for reproducing the AV data andaccess performance of the reproduction apparatus such that the AV datacan be continuously reproduced.
 2. An information processing systemcomprising a recording apparatus for recording data onto an informationrecording disk having a volume space and a control apparatus forcontrolling the recording apparatus, wherein: the control apparatusdetermines whether a file is an AV file including AV data, and when itis determined that the file is the AV file, the control apparatussearches for at least one unrecorded area which has a predetermined sizeor a larger size, and which includes at least one Error Correcting Code(ECC) block; the recording apparatus records the AV data in the at leastone searched unrecorded area, wherein the recording of the AV datastarts from a leading sector in an ECC block, and an area from the endof the recorded AV data to at least one boundary of the ECC block isfilled with padding data, and the predetermined size is determined basedon a buffer capacity included in a reproduction apparatus forreproducing the AV data and access performance of the reproductionapparatus such that the AV data can be continuously reproduced.